California 12/10/13 Siskiyou County: OR-7, a 4-year-old wolf and native of Oregon that has traveled more than 3,000 miles since late 2011 unsuccessfully looking for a mate, took a day-trip into northern California over the weekend, but has now returned to the southern Cascades territory in Oregon that he seems to favor. A California Fish & Wildlife officer who has been following his GPS tracking signals said he appears to be following migrating deer and elk. – See http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_24696703/ore-wandering-wolf-or-7-takes-day-tripBear Attacks:Florida 12/05/13 Seminole County: A 54-year-old woman walking her dogs in the Wingfield North section of Longwood on Dec. 2nd was seriously wounded when a black bear attacked without provocation or warning. The woman suffered severe lacerations to her face and head and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. The dogs ran off but were later found and returned to their home. A bear has since been captured in the area and has been euthanized. – See http://www.inquisitr.com/1052743/florida-bear-captured-and-euthanized-following-attack/

Black bear. Courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Pennsylvania 12/10/13 Clinton County: An 18-year-old girl who was deer hunting with family members in Mill Hall on Dec. 9th accidentally found herself between a black bear sow and three cubs. The sow attacked leaving the girl with deep bite wounds to her arms and shoulders, and a deep laceration on her head before it was scared off by others in the hunting party. The girl underwent surgery at Geisenger Medical Center in Danville. – See http://www.wearecentralpa.com/story/teen-attacked-by-black-bear/d/story/gjJt1F3LakCEL7IdKScqsAVirginia 12/11/13 Bedford County: A 32-year-old male hunting with dogs in the vicinity of Suck Mountain in Bedford was bitten on both arms by a black bear when he tried to intervene after his dogs confronted the bear. The terrain was steep and the hunter slipped, falling toward the bear. The incident was over quickly and the hunter drove himself to a hospital where he received about six stitches in each arm. A state game warden called the incident “provoked” and
said there’s no reason for public alarm. – See http://www.roanoke.com/news/2444761-12/bear-bites-bedford-county-hunter-after-dogs-confront.htmlChronic Wasting Disease:North Dakota 12/09/13 Grant County: A mule deer shot by a hunter in the 3F2 hunting unit is the fourth deer to test positive for the chronic wasting disease in the past five years. Infected mule deer were killed in 2009, 2010, and 2011, all within a circular area with a diameter of about 15 miles. – See http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/91143/group/homepage/Hantavirus:

Jerry Genesio

Author of "UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers: What you should know about pathogens commonly found in wildlife."

This is where wildlife and healthcare professionals, hunters, campers, hikers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts will find interesting information about natural unseen hazards that place them at risk. As my book focused exclusively on Rabies, Tetanus (Lockjaw), Tularemia (Rabbit Fever), Brucellosis (Undulant Fever), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Borrelia (Lyme Disease), posts regarding these six diseases will be limited to more recent developments and items of interest that were not included or were not available when the book was published in June of 2009. Topics will also include Chronic Wasting Disease, West Nile Virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and other diseases of particular interest to those who work and play in the great American outdoors.

Don’t Be Afraid – Be Aware!

The Natural Unseen Hazards blog is available to all free of charge and is maintained as a public service.

If you have questions related to pathogens commonly found in wildlife, e.g. the disease caused by a specific pathogen, hosts, vectors, symptoms, treatment, territorial range, etc., please comment here or e-mail to jerrygenesio@gmail.com and I will attempt to provide answers.

"Chance favors the prepared mind."
Louis Pasteur

Unless otherwise noted, images have been provided by the CDC Public Health Image Library, Wikimedia Commons, the National Park Service or other government agencies, Bing.com, and/or Google.com.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Marie Curie

"It's better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret."
Jackie Joyner Kersee